Oct. 20, 2025

God Delights in You

Send me a text You’re not just loved by God, you’re delighted in. In this episode, discover how God’s joy over you changes the way you see yourself and live each day. Ever feel like God loves you because He has to, but not because He wants to? It’s easy to imagine Him tolerating us rather than rejoicing over us. But Scripture says something breathtakingly different: God sings over His children with joy. In today’s devotion, you’ll hear the true story of Russell Moore’s adoption of two little ...

Send me a text

You’re not just loved by God, you’re delighted in. In this episode, discover how God’s joy over you changes the way you see yourself and live each day.

Ever feel like God loves you because He has to, but not because He wants to?

It’s easy to imagine Him tolerating us rather than rejoicing over us. But Scripture says something breathtakingly different: God sings over His children with joy.

In today’s devotion, you’ll hear the true story of Russell Moore’s adoption of two little boys from Russia, and the moment one of them realized, deep down, that he was no longer an orphan but a beloved son. That picture beautifully reflects what God has done for us through Jesus: He’s given us a new name, a new identity, and a Father who delights to call us His own.

Main Scriptures:

Zephaniah 3:17 – “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Psalm 149:4 - “For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

The difference between being accepted and being delighted in by God
What it means to live from approval, not for it
How to rest in the joy of your Heavenly Father’s love

Today’s Challenge:

Take five minutes to thank God for adopting you into His family. Pray, “Father, help me to live like someone You delight in.” Then write down one way you’ve seen His care in your life this week as a reminder that you are loved and chosen.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded that God delights in them too.

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WEBVTT

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In a Russian courtroom, two one-year-old boys heard their new name spoken over them.

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The judges' words were simple, but everything shifted. Little Maxim became Benjamin Jacob Moore, and little Sergei became Timothy Russell Moore. In that moment, orphan was replaced with son, not by their effort, but by a father and mother's choice and a legal declaration of love.

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Imagine standing there, these boys with new names and a new family, wondering, will they ever feel the joy that's already theirs?

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Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger.

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Sometimes, we think God loves us in a general way, like He loves everyone, but not with a kind of joy or affection that sees us.

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But Scripture paints a very different picture. A God who doesn't just put up with us, He rejoices over us. Zephaniah 3.17 says, For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. In Psalm 149.4 says, For the Lord delights in His people. He crowns the humble with victory. If you've ever wondered how God feels about you.

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If you've ever wondered how God feels about you, I believe this verse answers it. God's love isn't forced. It's not something He has to do. And it's not even based on anything you and I have to do. He delights in us.

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Zephaniah 3.17 says, He sings over His children. Think about that. The same God who spoke the universe into existence also sings over you with joy. For some of that's hard to believe.

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Maybe you grew up feeling unseen.

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Or worse, abused. Or you've been told your worth comes from performance. And what you do.

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And how you behave. Or maybe how well you hide your failures. But God doesn't delight in you because you got it right. He delights in you because you're His. That's what I love about the biblical example of adoption.

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It's what adoption does. It gives a new identity based on relationship, not record. And when you belong to Christ, you don't live for approval. You live from it. You're already loved, already chosen, and already delighted in. The Bible says in Psalm 149.4, The Lord delights in His people. That means God takes joy in hearing your voice in prayer. He loves watching you grow in seeing His image reflected in your ordinary life. He doesn't tolerate your presence. He treasures it.

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Russell Moore shared that there was a moment when one of his sons cried out and realized he would be heard and cared for.

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And that changed everything. It was the moment the boy knew he wasn't a visitor anymore. He was a son with a father who delighted to answer. That's how God feels about you. You don't have to earn His attention because you already have it.

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Here's your challenge today.

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Take a few minutes to sit quietly and thank God for adopting you into His family.

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prayer, Father, help me to live like someone you delight in.

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Then, write down one way you've seen His care in your life this week.

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Father, thank you for loving me, not just in theory, but with the realization that you really do love me. Thank you that in Christ, I'm not an orphan. I am your child. Calm my fears.

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Whiten my doubts and help me rest in the joy of being yours.

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In Jesus' name, Amen. Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

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Remember, God doesn't just accept you. He delights in you.

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Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.

God Delights in You

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